Horn of plenty
Edible

Horn of plentyCraterellus cornucopioides

Other common names: horn of plenty, black chanterelle, black trumpet, trumpet of the dead

Underappreciated but excellent edible mushroom. It predominantly grows in deciduous forests across Europe and North America, typically fruiting in autumn. Due to its dark color, it can be challenging to spot among fallen, darkening leaves.

Identification guide

Fruiting Body identification

Fruiting Body

The fruiting body is funnel- or trumpet-shaped (hence its common names), reaching up to 10 cm (4 inches) in height, occasionally up to 15 cm (6 inches). The cap blends smoothly into the stem, making the division between them indistinct.

Cap identification

Cap

The cap ranges from 2 to 9 cm (0.8 to 3.5 inches) in diameter, with rolled-out, uneven edges. As the mushroom ages, the edges become more irregular, thin, and brittle, sometimes cracking. The color varies from yellowish and grayish-brown to black, and the surface is rarely smooth, often wrinkled and sometimes scaly.

Hymenophore identification

Hymenophore

There are no true gills. The spore-bearing outer surface is nearly smooth or slightly wrinkled, with faint striations. It has a matte or waxy texture and is typically lighter than the cap, with a bluish-gray to ashy tint.

Stem identification

Stem

The hollow stem tapers slightly towards the base and may be curved. Its surface is similar to the hymenophore but may be less waxy and without the pronounced bluish-gray hue.

Flesh

The flesh is thin, fragile, fibrous, and ranges in color from gray to brown or black.

Growth Patterns identification

Growth Patterns

In groups or clusters.

Spores

Spore print is white, creamy, yellowish-white, sometimes pinkish

Habitat and substrate

It predominantly grows in deciduous forests, usually near beech or oak trees, but can also be found under other trees and in coniferous forests.

Taste and smell

Mild, pleasant, but not particularly distinctive.

Edibility & Toxicity guide

Horn of plenty (Craterellus cornucopioides) is edible.

Horn of plenty is widely regarded as an edible culinary mushroom and is often used fresh or dried. Do not consume any wild mushroom unless its identity has been confirmed by a qualified local expert.

Reference Sources

  • Foraging for mushrooms and other wild foods in the UK (2024) Wild Food UK. Available at: https://www.wildfooduk.com/ (Accessed: 26 June 2024).
  • Hard, M.E. (2010) The mushroom, edible and otherwise its habitat and its time of growth. To be supplied: Project Gutenberg.
  • Jordan, P. (2012) The Mushroom Guide and Identifier: The Ultimate Guide to identifying, picking and using mushrooms. Leicestershire: Hermes House, an imprint of Anness Publishing Ltd.
  • McKnight, K.H. and McKnight, V.B. (1987) A field guide to Mushrooms of North America. Boston: Houghton Mifflin.
  • Your 2,300-page wildlife window on the World Wide Web (no date) Wildflowers, wild orchids, fungi, wildlife; nature books, reserves. Available at: https://www.first-nature.com/index.php (Accessed: 26 June 2024).